The Korea Football Association (KFA) stated that South Korea shall submit a proposal to stage the 2023 Asian Cup after China decided to abandon its rights to the championship.
Last month, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a request for proposals to host the Asian Cup in 2023, stating that intrigued nations should confirm their bid by June 30. The championship was scheduled to take place in June and July of next year in China, but due to the country’s efforts to adhere to a zero-COVID policy, the 24-team event has been rescheduled.
President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea gave the green light to a bid to host the finals beforehand this month, instructing his sporting officials to try to obtain the championship.
According to a posting on KFA’s website, “The Korea Football Association is promoting the bid for the ‘2023 AFC Asian Cup’ hosted by the AFC in Korea.
“Therefore, we would like to proceed with the application for bid from local governments that have stadiums that can host international games, such as domestic soccer-only stadiums and general sports grounds.”
The AFC Asian Cup in 2023 would be the 18th iteration of the quadrennial, meaning recurring every four years, international men’s football competition. It will be contested from June 16 to July 16, 2023, and will include 24 national teams, including the host nation, following the enlargement of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. For the second year in a row, India has advanced in the competition.